Chapter 982: Overwhelming Domination
"As expected of a disciple of a god—this person's combat power is far stronger than any opponent I have faced before."
In that previous move, Zhang Ruochen had used a full thirty percent of his strength, which at the same cultivation level should have been enough to sweep through any opponent.
Yet, after a single exchange, he found himself at a disadvantage.
From this, it was clear just how formidable Xue Lingxian was. Even the nine realm sons cultivated by Empress Chi Yao might not be his match at the same level.
Xue Lingxian was also somewhat surprised. He stared at the man standing across from him and said, "Over the years, I have encountered quite a few candidates for divine son, but you are the first to withstand a single strike from me."
"Is that so? Then take a strike from me as well."
Zhang Ruochen slowly raised his arm. The seven sacred jades embedded in the Seven Kill Fist Gloves emitted seven different kinds of radiance.
This time, Zhang Ruochen prepared to use forty percent of his strength.
Ripples of energy surged from the Seven Kill Fist Gloves, spreading outward in rings of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet light, forming a rainbow circle dozens of zhang in diameter.
He struck out with a palm.
"Boom."
A sound like a great bell or cauldron erupted, striking toward Xue Lingxian with a momentum that shook heaven and earth.
Xue Lingxian could clearly feel that the power of this strike was astonishing, posing a considerable threat to him.
"Lianshan Seal."
Xue Lingxian's hands formed seals, producing dozens of hand shadows.
At the same time, a seal technique condensed and shot forward, colliding with Zhang Ruochen's palm strike.
The two forces clashed violently, causing even the Blood God Altar to tremble slightly.
Immediately afterward, both figures flew backward, crashing into the bone walls of the altar and shattering a large section of skeletal remains.
The next moment, Zhang Ruochen and Xue Lingxian shot forward again like lightning, resuming their clash as palm techniques and seal techniques continuously struck against each other.
In an instant, they each unleashed dozens of attacks, every move exquisitely refined and immensely powerful, possessing the strength to move mountains and shift seas.
Below the Blood God Altar, the gathered cultivators were already stunned, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.
No one could believe that Gu Linfeng's combat power was so terrifying, capable of matching Xue Lingxian in his youth.
"How can this brat's strength be this formidable?"
Hai Ming Fawang's thirteenth disciple, Lan Ye, turned his gaze to Ji Shui, a questioning look on his face.
For the past month, Ji Shui had been staying with Gu Linfeng. If Gu Linfeng had truly concealed some extraordinary techniques, it would have been impossible to hide them from her.
Yet at this moment, even Ji Shui was confused.
Was this still the Gu Linfeng who often teased her?
No…
Definitely not.
This man's combat power and potential were no less than those of the first divine son, Xue Lingxian, and he was even more monstrous than that strange prodigy from a thousand years ago. How could he possibly be a lecher? All his previous behavior must have been deliberately feigned to deceive everyone.
Huo Xin stared blankly, muttering under his breath, "Impossible, impossible… How could he be this strong?"
Given the current situation, even if Gu Linfeng ultimately lost to Xue Lingxian, Huo Xin could never become divine son. No one would accept him.
"Only Gu Linfeng is worthy of being divine son." This thought echoed in the minds of countless Blood God Sect disciples.
The Blood God Sect was a place where the strong were revered, and it was clear that Gu Linfeng's strength had won over everyone.
Even the supporters of Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin now looked at Gu Linfeng with immense admiration. Watching him fight Xue Lingxian made their blood boil.
Among the cultivators who had once favored Hai Lingyin stood a seductive woman with a slightly wicked aura and a face that could topple cities. Her name was Ning Xi, known as the Blood God Sect's number one sex symbol and the dream goddess of many sect disciples.
At this moment, Ning Xi gazed at the sixth level of the Blood God Altar with burning eyes and said, "Gu Linfeng must become the divine son of the Blood God Sect. Only he can represent the younger generation of the sect. From now on, when we travel the world and invoke the divine son's name, it will strike fear into our enemies."
No one had ever seen Ning Xi show such reverence, not even when facing Hai Lingyin.
At the top of the Blood God Altar, the saints of the Blood God Sect all exchanged glances.
Even with the mental fortitude of saints, watching the battle between Gu Linfeng and Xue Lingxian made it impossible to remain calm.
The leader of the Four Great Fawangs, Tianji Fawang, glanced at Hai Ming Fawang and let out a long sigh: "Impressive, truly impressive. In my lifetime, to see such a remarkable young man emerge from the sect fills me with immense relief."
"Hai Ming Fawang has taught well, nurturing a peerless talent for the Blood God Sect—an achievement of unparalleled merit."
"This child's potential and talent are no less than those of the nine realm sons. Once he grows up, the Blood God Sect is sure to flourish."
…
The saint-level titans of the Blood God Sect spared no effort in praising Gu Linfeng and Hai Ming Fawang. Of course, some saints remained silent, their eyes flickering as if lost in thought.
The battle between Zhang Ruochen and Xue Lingxian continued for two full hours without a decisive victor, growing increasingly fierce.
After a particularly violent clash, Xue Lingxian retreated, putting some distance between them, and said, "I have to admit, your strength is truly formidable. Even in the Middle Ages, you would have been among the elite of your generation."
Zhang Ruochen replied, "What, are you conceding?"
"Conceding?"
Xue Lingxian chuckled, a look of disdain on his face. "From now on, I will use my true strength. Let's see if you can still hold your ground."
Dozens of silver lightning bolts coursed through Xue Lingxian's body, crackling with sound.
Then, from his back, four silver light wings sprouted, and his body grew to twice its original height.
"His power has increased by at least thirty to forty percent." Zhang Ruochen could sense Xue Lingxian's aura surging dramatically.
"Whoosh—"
Xue Lingxian transformed into a streak of silver light, appearing above Zhang Ruochen's head in an instant. He brought his hand down like a blade.
Zhang Ruochen channeled even greater power, raising both palms to block.
With a loud crash, half of Zhang Ruochen's body sank into the shattered bones, but he managed to withstand Xue Lingxian's strike.
Without hesitation, Xue Lingxian struck again, aiming for Zhang Ruochen's neck.
This time, Zhang Ruochen leaped up first, dodging the hand blade and soaring dozens of zhang into the air.
"Seven-Orifice Blood Nether Palm."
Six orifices opened simultaneously in Zhang Ruochen's palm, drawing the blood energy from the Blood God Altar into his hand in an endless stream.
Moments later, a massive blood dragon materialized along his arm.
"Is this… a sacred art?"
Xue Lingxian clasped his hands together, his entire skin turning silver as if his body were forged from white metal, radiating nine layers of silver sacred light.
"Blood God Five-Finger Seal."
Xue Lingxian extended his right hand, his arm growing longer and thicker until it swelled to ten times its original size.
The Blood God Five-Finger Seal was a sacred art of the Blood God Sect. It was said that when cultivated to its peak, one could reach out and pluck stars from beyond the universe.
Xue Lingxian had mastered this art at the fourth-rank Half-Saint level, which was already an extraordinary achievement.
Other cultivators would feel despair facing this technique.
But Gu Linfeng was no weakling. He had cultivated the Seven-Orifice Blood Nether Palm to the sixth orifice, and the palm strike he unleashed clearly possessed the power of a sacred art.
As the two sacred arts collided, every Blood God Sect disciple held their breath, their muscles trembling with tension.
The Blood God Five-Finger Seal against the Seven-Orifice Blood Nether Palm—who would emerge victorious?
"Crackle."
A sound of overwhelming force echoed from the sixth level of the Blood God Altar, like thunder shaking the heavens, causing the eardrums of lower-level martial artists to ache.
When the blood energy dispersed, Gu Linfeng stood at the edge of the altar, his long hair loose, as steady as a pine, still wearing a calm and composed expression.
However, the fourth-rank Half-Saint skeleton summoned by Xue Lingxian had been shattered into pieces, scattered as a pile of bone fragments on the ground.
Xue Lingxian's spirit body hovered in midair and said, "If my physical body were still intact, I would not have lost just now."
"If you're not convinced, we can continue fighting," Zhang Ruochen said.
"No need. Your strength qualifies you to be the divine son of the Blood God Sect."
With that, Xue Lingxian's spirit body dissipated, turning into blood mist.
Zhang Ruochen gradually withdrew the power and energy from his body, becoming plain and unremarkable once more.
"I had to use fifty percent of my strength to defeat Xue Lingxian. It seems my previous perspective was still too narrow," Zhang Ruochen mused.
Xue Lingxian was indeed powerful, but in the Middle Ages, there were certainly beings even stronger than him.
There was always a sky beyond the sky, and people beyond the people.
It was very likely that some monstrous talents from the Middle Ages could compete with Zhang Ruochen at the same level.
The nine realm sons cultivated by Empress Chi Yao each received astonishing resources, and it was even possible that some divine medicines from the Middle Ages were used on them.
By now, the nine realm sons might already be able to rival Xue Lingxian.
At the same level, Zhang Ruochen naturally had no fear of them.
But if he were one or two realms behind them, he might not necessarily be able to defeat them.
"My greatest trump cards are the power of time and the power of space. If I used them, I wouldn't need even fifty percent of my strength to defeat Xue Lingxian."
Zhang Ruochen was confident in himself.
Just then, the voice of the Kunzi Heavenly Palace Master came from the top of the Blood God Altar: "The divine son competition has ended."
The Kunzi Heavenly Palace Master extended a hand, flicking his sleeve to send a river of blood-red sacred energy cascading down.
The sacred energy river wrapped around Zhang Ruochen, lifting him and slowly carrying him toward the top of the nine-tiered altar.
Below the altar.
The Blood God Sect cultivators snapped out of their shock from the earlier battle.
Watching Gu Linfeng rise into the air, they all displayed expressions of excitement, elation, and reverence. (To be continued.)